Proficiency
The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to assess their learning standards for English/Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science. Each state may also have a general assessment for the majority of its students, and an alternate assessment for the one percent of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. States have the option of calculating and reporting proficiency as one way to report on student performance. Learn More
The use of the term proficiency in educational data generally refers to students demonstrating or not demonstrating that they are “well advanced in … a branch of knowledge” (from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Proficiency can be measured in a variety of ways, but for the purposes of the Illinois Report Card proficiency represents students’ success in achieving levels within standardized testing that indicate proficiency in English language arts (ELA), math, or science.
The “All Test Proficiency” measure is the proficiency rate for students combining all tests. A rate is calculated for ELA, Math, and Science at the elementary and high school levels.
The “All Test Proficiency Rate Accountability” measure is calculated, when relevant for accountability using the 95% Participation Rate denominator. This slightly different formula and resulting proficiency figure reflect what is submitted as part of federal accountability reporting for some schools statewide.
As relevant, a rate is calculated for ELA, Math, and Science at the elementary and high school levels.
In 2022 this proficiency measure includes results from the following assessments (again, as relevant for each school):
IAR
SAT
DLM
ISA